Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Shop rapped for sales of alcohol to children
ACONVENIENCE store and off-licence in Swindon has had its licence suspended after a hearing found the illegal trading of alcohol and vape products to children was taking place.
The business has avoided closure despite evidence of the criminal activities and failure to protect children from harm. This followed a report from Wiltshire Police which alleged not only the above, but also that drinks were being exchanged for sexual acts at the premises.
Meadowcroft Extra convenience store in Upper Stratton, Swindon, has had its licence suspended for three months, with conditions that when it is returned, CCTV will be in place, among other measures.
The Licence Committee hearing at Swindon Borough Council yesterday did not find that the business had been used for the commissioning of any sexual offences – however, there was an acceptance by the business owner and licence holder, Chintah Shah that a previous employee may have asked for a telephone number from a potentially underage person, but this member of staff was dismissed.
The panel determined that it had doubts as to Mr Shah’s evidence as he stated that during the period in question he only employed the person mentioned above (a male) yet the evidence showed that the sale of the vape products to the underage persons was carried out by a female.
In their submission to the committee, officers also reported that children were allowed to work in the shop with no safety training, there were some staff working there who did not have the right to work in the UK and that there was intelligence to suggest drug dealing and drug taking was happening at the premises.
Concern was raised at the hearing as to the seemingly little progress made to address the reports, despite having received notification of concerns.
It was determined that the conditions put forward by Mr Shah at the hearing, coupled with a period of suspension to allow for compliance, would mean that these breaches could be remedied without the need for revocation.
Mr Shah told our sister website Wiltshire Live in an interview before the hearing, that the impact of the allegations from Wiltshire Police had been devastating to his family. He said: “There is no evidence against me. All of the necessary documents have been submitted to the council and to police.
“This has nothing to do with my personal name, but it has affected me personally, my wife, my young children and my standing in the community. The police haven’t put in any evidence. It’s just hearsay, what people have said to them. Anyone could say anything.”
The Swindon shop owner is father to an 11-year-old, a six-year-old and a newborn, and said he has already noticed a change in the community’s behaviour towards him since the allegations emerged.